Smith, Carney say Trump team must respect Canadian sovereignty

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Thursday that the United States must respect Canadian sovereignty following reports that leaders of Alberta’s separatist movement met with U.S. government officials seeking support. However, both stopped short of endorsing British Columbia Premier David Eby’s description of those meetings as “treason.”

Eby, citing a Financial Times report, said it was inappropriate for any group to ask a foreign government to assist in breaking up Canada. “I understand the desire to hold a referendum,” Eby said ahead of the first ministers’ meeting. “But to go to a foreign country and ask for help in breaking up Canada—there’s an old-fashioned word for that. And that word is treason.”

The Financial Times reported that leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project met three times with U.S. State Department officials in Washington since April.

When asked about the meetings, neither Smith nor Carney used the term “treason.” Smith said she expects the U.S. administration to refrain from involving itself in Canada’s internal affairs. “I would expect that the U.S. administration would respect Canadian sovereignty and confine any discussion of Alberta’s democratic process to Albertans and Canadians,” she said, adding that she would raise the issue with Alberta’s representatives in Washington and Ottawa.

Carney initially avoided directly addressing the meetings but later echoed Smith’s comments. “I fully associate myself with Premier Smith’s remarks,” he said. “I expect the U.S. administration to respect Canadian sovereignty, and I make that clear in my conversations with President Trump.”

Carney said Trump has never raised separatist movements in Alberta or Quebec during their discussions.

Smith reiterated that her government supports “a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,” but said polling suggests roughly one million Albertans feel alienated after what she described as years of federal policies harmful to the province’s resource economy. “I’m not going to demonize or marginalize a million of my fellow citizens when they have legitimate grievances,” she said.

Jeff Rath, a lawyer representing the Alberta Prosperity Project who attended the meetings, rejected claims that the discussions were treasonous or illegal. “We are private citizens,” Rath said. “We do not have the authority to enter into any agreement on behalf of the province of Alberta.”

Rath said no agreements were made, no funding was requested or received, and no commitments were offered by U.S. officials. While declining to name the officials involved, he confirmed the meetings were with the U.S. State Department and said another meeting is planned for next month.

Canada’s Criminal Code defines treason as using violence to overthrow a government or sharing sensitive military or scientific information with a foreign power. High treason includes acts such as attempting to harm the monarch or assisting an enemy at war with Canada.

A U.S. State Department official, speaking on background, said the department regularly meets with civil society groups and that no commitments were made. A White House official issued a similar statement, emphasizing that such meetings do not imply support or endorsement.

Rath has previously said the group discussed a hypothetical $500 billion U.S. loan or financing mechanism to support Alberta’s transition to independence, but he described those talks Thursday as an “academic exercise,” not a solicitation of funds. He said the group intends to prepare a detailed proposal to present to the Alberta government if a referendum succeeds.

Eby said the meetings were particularly concerning given what he described as former U.S. President Donald Trump’s lack of respect for Canadian sovereignty.

Other premiers also weighed in. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said she believes Albertans will ultimately choose to remain in Canada. Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the reported meetings “unacceptable” and “unethical,” arguing that groups should not bypass provincial or federal governments to engage with foreign powers.

“We’re one country and we should all be sticking together,” Ford said. “We’ll fight with every tool we have.”

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently described Alberta as a “natural partner” for the United States, citing its resource wealth and interest in building a new pipeline to the West Coast.

Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said Thursday that his party would not seek U.S. support for a referendum in Quebec. Speaking in French near Quebec City, he said the PQ has no direct ties to the Trump administration and is not soliciting foreign assistance.

Plamondon nonetheless praised Alberta’s independence movement, calling it “vibrant,” and said that meeting with U.S. officials does not in itself constitute foreign interference. “I don’t know whether Alberta or Quebec will achieve independence first,” he said. “But we can at least talk to each other.”

The Alberta independence movement is currently collecting signatures to trigger a referendum on separation. Mitch Sylvestre, who is leading the petition effort, said earlier this month that he does not believe members of the movement want Alberta to join the United States.

Source: citynews